US President Donald Trump on Monday gave a cryptic response to a question about Iran's last chance, while the Pentagon simultaneously accelerates weapons production amid reports of depleted stockpiles.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday, August 10, 2026, that significant escalation against Iran remains an option, emphasizing that the United States retains the possibility of carrying out previously threatened aggression. Responding to reporters' questions at the White House, Trump was notably terse.
Tensions rose further when a reporter confronted him with an earlier statement. "You said this was Iran's last chance. What now?" the journalist asked. Trump's response was brief and menacing: "You'll find out."
At the same time, his remarks come as the Pentagon works urgently to ramp up weapons production. According to available information, US ammunition stockpiles are depleted, creating a contradiction: the US publicly leaves the door open for a more aggressive war against Iran, while privately seeking to replenish the weapons needed to wage it.
Meanwhile, Trump also announced that the United States will seek compensation from Iran for victims of the war, as well as those killed during Iranian protests over the past fifty years. This demand came just days after Tehran, as a condition for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, asked Washington to pay reparations for damage caused during the five-month conflict.
In a separate address, Trump also commented on his political legacy, particularly regarding Iran. "The next president will get a lot of credit for what I did. Please remember that it was me, not them," the American leader said, suggesting that a potential deal with Tehran would be attributed to his tenure.
This statement comes at a sensitive time as the US balances diplomatic and military options toward Iran, and the Trump administration seeks to solidify its foreign policy legacy. Adding another dimension to the situation is the recent Washington Post report about a secret operation during Trump's return from the NATO summit in Turkey last month. Due to the Iranian threat, the president quietly left the old Air Force One and was transported by a food delivery truck to a smaller C-32A military aircraft, while the presidential plane served as a decoy.
